Security news20 February 2008
Voice phishers cash in on genuine warning with cloned switchboard Cybercriminals fake bank switchboard to steal information from worried customers
IT security and control firm Sophos is warning computer users to be extra vigilant about any emails which claim to come from financial institutions, no matter how genuine the correspondence appears. The warning comes as customers of a small credit union, Kessler Federal, are being targeted with phishing emails that attempt to cash in on a phishing warning posted on the organisation's website, and entice worried customers to call a fake phone number to verify their details.
Sophos experts note that to add credibility to the phish, the cybercriminals have stuck very closely to the text used on Kessler Federal's website and have included legitimate URLs which link to official advice pages, as well as the proper email address for reporting abuse. However, the phishers did change the date, text and phone number at the bottom of the email in an attempt to solicit phone calls to the posted number.
The email asks recipients to call a phone number.
When dialled, users are greeted with an automated voice which assures callers that they will not be asked for any personal information such as a Social Security number. It then goes on to ask for the customer's bank card number, followed by the PIN - sufficient information for the cybercriminals to steal money from the user's bank account at a cash machine, or to transfer funds to an off-shore account.
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"By using genuine links in the email, the cybercriminals are making it very hard for recipients to realise this is a phish. What's more, most computer users are now wary of clicking on links and entering their details, so asking customers to call to verify their information further enhances the legitimacy of the email," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Phishing techniques are constantly evolving as the organisations and customers involved wise up to the old tricks. Plus, it's not just global brands that are being targeted - any size financial organisations is valuable to phishers providing they can make their scams seem legitimate and trick users into handing over their personal details."
Sophos notes that this is not the first time that voice phishing (known as "vishing") has been used to trick innocent victims' into parting with their bank details. In 2006, PayPal users were targeted by a similar scam.
"There seems to be little that financial organizations can do to stop criminals cloning their switchboards lock-stock-and-barrel," explained Cluley. "To combat the risks, users should learn to use the telephone number on the back of their card or go into a branch rather than trusting everything they receive via email."
Sophos recommends that users protect themselves with a consolidated solution that can defend against the threats of spam, spyware, hackers and viruses; and that they exercise caution with unsolicited emails.
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About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.
